Does anyone have any experience with Cold-Case aluminum radiators? I am at the Good Guys show today and they are running a special for $320 for a 2 core (1 inch tubes) aluminum radiator. He says it is a factory fit and that if it doesn't fit, he will refund my money and eat the return shipping. Designed in the U.S., manufactured in Taiwan, tig welded, no epoxy. Supposed to be good for 500-600 HP so it should be fine with my relativly stock Stage 1 motor. I asked if it was a universal A-Body fit radiator and he said no, it was Buick GS specific. He pulled one out of the box and at first glance, it appeared to have the 1 1/2 inlet and outlet so I think they at at least got that part right so far. Are there other magic dimensions I should look for? I don't have my car with me, so I can't take any to check. Thank you, Gary
I don't have that specific radiator but, the inlet and outlet are right and I have the same 2 core 1" tube variety and it works fine with my 480 HP 464 10.5 CR motor. Keeps temps down to about 175 when cruising and rise in heavy traffic never tops about 200. As for price, there are several companies offering Buick spec aluminum radiators with two 1" tubes in the $200 range. So, $320 seems high to me. I think I paid about $250 for mine about 3 years ago.
Just checked their web site and the price is $369 online. They make the radiator for both auto and manual transmissions so, be sure you get the correct one you need.
I recently installed a Cold Case radiator in my 68 GS. My CC radiator is about 1" wider than the one it replaced. I had to drill a hole at the bottom of the support to move the passenger side cushion over an inch.
I guess I will be the guinea pig for fit and performance in a 70 GS 455. They also gave a lifetime warranty. I will keep everyone posted as I work through the adventure. I am changing the the timing cover and with everything out of the way, i will be installing the fast ratio steering box I got from Hector too. It should be like a new car when I am done.
Gary I already was the guinea pig! The one they have is 1" to wide and doesn't fit our Buicks! I contacted them about it and thank God they are local to me. I actually brought them two of my original radiators from our Buicks to show them the issue with their radiator. I have to say first they did try to work with me to resolve the issue. While I was there they had a radiator in their showroom and I said let's compare that radiator with the Buick ones and it was perfect, it was there prototype. They let me use it and it was a perfect fit! Cold Case is suppose to have a redesign coming this fall and i am suppose to get one when it's available! Cold Case radiator is well built and the prototype fits great and looks like the original. I will post photos later on this post.
Shawn, the show was great both Friday and Saturday. We managed to stay in the vendor building during the rain storm on Friday and today was beautiful weather. Had to park in Timbuckthree today, but thank God for the shuttle, especially leaving carrying the radiator. George, Larry Gibson was kind enough to let me take some measurements on his GS 455 at the show before I bought the radiator today and the dimensions seemed to be very close to the original one in his car. Maybe they made some changes already. I will have to check mine when I get home Sunday night before I begin the adventure. Thank you the information.
Here is the comparison of my original radiator and Cold Case A-Body Radiator. As you can see the Cold Case Radiator does not sit correctly on the Buick radiator support and top plate, the radiator sits 1" towards the passenger side of the car and not on the radiator bushing. I post more photos of the Cold Case Radiator.
Here are the photos of the installed Prototype Cold Case Radiator and its a perfect fit! Just a reminder this is not the radiator that Cold Case Sells for our Buick! Again I want to say Cold Case went out of there way to make sure I was satisfied. As I noted on the post above, Cold Case is suppose to have an updated radiator for our Buick in the fall. Cold Case informed me that I will get to install the new updated radiator soon and I will update this post as soon as possible.
Here is the comparison of the original radiator in the back, Cold Case Radiator in the middle and Cold Case Prototype Radiator upfront. You case see how the Cold Case Radiator in the middle is wider then the original and the prototype.
George, thank you for the detailed pictures and info, I can't wait to get home tonight and see how the version I just bought compares.
The Cold Case has the filler neck set at an angle like the 72 GS radiators. The 70-71 Harrison radiators are not cut at an angle like this.
My wishful thinking and hoping were not rewarded; the radiator I bought does not quite fit. The folks at Cold Case will take it back and either refund my money or refund me some money to keep it and make it work. The third option is that I can wait to get one of the new production units, but the gentlemen I spoke with thought it might be next year, not this fall before they would be available. I am trying to get the car back on the road by July 22. I tried to drop it in tonight and of course it does not fit so well. I think I could put in some new radiator insulators and hack them up to make it work, but I am not sure how it will look. I am not so worried about cosmetics on the bottom as you cannot see them, but I did notice that there are specific areas in the core support for the bottom insulators. One of my thoughts was to move them in so that the insulator was not touching the seam as it should be, but rather resting on the frame of the core. I think that cosmetics on the top will be a problem. Is there a truly "drop in" replacement aluminum radiator out there for a GS 455? I don't really want to put the old 4 core copper & brass back in, keep my fingers crossed that it doesn't overheat in traffic and then rip it apart again next year to put in the correct Cold Case unit.
I don't like the looks of that cold case radiator one bit. in my opinion it's not very clean looking where welded..
We have a thread with companies that make the Harrison style reproduction radiators. They cost more but you get what you pay for.
Gary I guess and hope Cold Case Radiator is now seeing that they don't fit correctly. As I stated earlier the Cold Case Prototype Radiator, that I installed in my GS, is the one they should be producing since it fits perfect and looks just like the original since I painted it black. I hope they let me install there new radiator in my car so I can give it a review. George
Why don't you just send yours to be re-cored? The cost is about the same, the look + fit will be right, a good shop will turn it over in less than a week.
Personally, I'd go the re-core route. That CC unit looks like it was made in the gulag or a welding school. Please don't take offence, but its a pretty lousy repop. As for fit up; its unacceptable. The 4 rubber cushions are there for a purpose and that's to prevent vibration which work hardens softer non-ferrous material especially like aluminum, copper and brass. Even steel has a yield point! ws
Are the Harrison repops North American made? (Canada/US) Might be a reason to go that route. Support our jobs, not Asian ones.
